Mary Stayed Out All Night: Episode 8

I know, an episode involving handcuffs and the kinkiest moment we get is a hair shampooing scene! One guess whose.

To be honest, I’ve been bored out of my MIND with Mary for the past few weeks. Normally I’d just drop a drama when it got that painfully dull, but I stuck with it this time, and this is the first episode that has started to upturn for me. I started to care about the characters again, which has been hard in recent episodes because people been acting so nonsensically and selfishly. But now that the fake-marriage jig is up, it’s forcing them to be more honest with each other and themselves. Not a moment too soon.

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EPISODE 8 RECAP

Mary admits that she and Mu-gyul aren’t married to the conveniently gathered group, who react in varying degrees of surprise. Seo-jun is the first to leave, stalking off peevishly as though this fake marriage is all about her. Really, she has the least right to be upset of any of these people, doesn’t she?

Jung-in’s father faces his son and gives him a good slap, although again, I’m not sure he has any right to be upset since Jung-in was just as surprised by the lie as he was. Oh, right. This is Mary. Logic does not dictate plot.

As the others leave, Jung-in stands out in the cold, alone.

So now it’s Day 51 of the contract, although both dads figure that there’s no need to go through with the formality of the 100 days anymore. They can hurry the kids along into an engagement next week.

The president has prepared a regimen he creepily calls “Making of a Cheongdam-dong Daughter-in-Law.” Can’t you and your yakuza money afford one of those robots instead? Creepier still is that Dad’s reaction isn’t “Get the fuck away from my daughter” and instead “Wow, thank you!” as he reads off categories like “culture,” “foreign language,” “etiquette,” and the like. Dad promises to turn Mary into the best bride ever, as though there’s some bride pageant out there by which to measure her worth. (By the way? Bride pageant = possibly the worst idea in the history of the world, yet also HILARIOUS. Me-ow. Coming soon to Fox.)

While cleaning, Mu-gyul finds the crumpled copy of Mary’s “Love’s Car Accident” story, which he throws out. He throws out her blue mittens, too, and quits as musical producer. Looks like Seo-jun was right about reluctant lover boy cutting and running as a defensive maneuver.

Despite Jung-in’s disappointment over losing Mu-gyul from the drama, he defends him to a snotty Manager Bang, who calls him irresponsible. But they have even bigger worries at hand, because a new scandal has popped up online regarding Seo-jun and her co-star. Now Seo-jun’s already sizable anti-fan numbers are growing because she’s supposedly dating oppa, and they’re starting to dig into her background, family, everything, as though she’s Tablo. If Tablo had murdered puppies and sold children into slavery instead of attending a prestigious university, that is.

The matter is too big for Jung-in’s own PR team to block, and since Seo-jun is unaffiliated with a management company, she has nobody to mitigate negative press for her. Hear that, Jung-in? That’s your Very Obvious Cue to swoop in and be her white knight!

Manager Bang offers to help with Seo-jun’s damage control, which seems about as helpful as accepting an antidote from a viper. Jung-in declines, instead seeking Seo-jun out in person.

He finds her working out at the gym, acting as though she’s impervious to the random gossips who snicker in her direction. She tells Jung-in she’s fine, and tells him that his idea of taking legal action won’t help matters.

While waiting for her engagement dress appointment, Mary tries to write a series of text messages apologizing to Mu-gyul for ruining things for him. However, her courage falters, and she can’t quite bring herself to tell him she’s getting engaged tomorrow.

When Jung-in arrives for his own tux fitting, the air is strained and quiet, and they both stand there awkwardly. Jung-in still seems upset over the lie, and Mary’s not sure how to act around him.

That evening, both families dine together, with dads smiling in satisfaction and the kids silent and uncomfortable. Jung-in finally speaks up when Mary announces her intent to visit her mother’s memorial tomorrow before the ceremony, offering to accompany her.

That night, Jung-in sleeps fitfully and wakes from a nightmare sweating and rattled. By his bedside, he sees the socks Mary had bought him; she’d told him that wearing them during the night would keep the nightmares away. He smiles to remember her telling him that the past can no longer hurt him and puts the socks on. Then lays down to sleep IN HIS SUIT.

Engagement day, also Mary’s birthday. Jung-in takes her to an arboretum in the morning, taking her hand as he leads her along, easing their tension somewhat.

Mary apologizes for the lie, saying that she was reacting to being forced into a marriage she didn’t want. He understands, having felt the same, and admits he’d felt angry. But not with her, as she assumes, but with himself.

Giving her the photo of the two of them as children, Jung-in tells her that he had a good dream last night. It’s really more of a memory, of the day the photo was taken.

It had been after Mary’s mother had just died, but she’d been too young to understand what that meant. Jung-in had been crying on the phone to his mother, begging to be sent back to Korea. So when Mary burst on him happily (“Oppa!”), he’d told her harshly that her mother was dead and gone forever.

Young Mary had burst into tears, and to make up for it, he’d carried her on piggyback. He’d tripped on the stairs, sending them both falling and causing the scar on her head. After that, he made the promise to protect her forever.

Jung-in apologizes again for Mary’s head injury, but she reminds him smilingly that the past can’t hurt her.

Upon returning home, Jung-in surprises her with a room full of her favorite books, his engagement present to her. You do know the way to a bookworm’s heart. Mary is touched, but this also reminds her of another incident, one involving Mu-gyul, and she gets lost in thought for a moment.

Jung-in gets an emergency call that Seo-jun is dropping out of the drama, so he promises to come back soon in time to visit her mother before their engagement ceremony. Before he leaves, he turns back to kiss her forehead scar and wishes her a happy birthday.

Upon checking her text messages, Mary discovers one that came from Mu-gyul, which reads simply, “Let’s meet.” She finds him at his usual spot in the park, playing before a small crowd, and laughs as Mu-gyul is attacked by a trio of ardent fans/students.

Conversation is stilted as they try to act pleasant and normal. He says things are back to normal — peaceful, just as he likes it. Mary says the same goes for her.

The bandmates show up, deciding that it’s about time to change Mu-gyul’s style concept, which makes them my new best friends. I might have more faith in their abilities if they weren’t dressed up like Fabulous Stripper Cops at the Boy-on-Boy Disco… but one produces handcuffs and slap them on Mu-gyul’s wrist, and this takes my imagination to fun places, so…

Mu-gyul has called Mary to pay her back for the deposit, which he’s earned by teaching music at a sunbae’s academy. Hilariously, Mu-gyul’s bandmate takes the handcuff and attaches the open end to Mary, locking them together. The boys agree that they need time to work things out, and drive off, promising to meet Mu-gyul later for their audition.

That leaves Mary and Mu-gyul stewing, stuck together for the time being. He suggests they wait it out till the 5 o’clock audition, but Mary can’t afford the time — not when she’s getting engaged later.

With some time to kill and Mu-gyul complaining of needing a shampoo, Mary is roped into helping him wash his hair. It’s either that or smell his dirty hair. You could say her hands are tied. Snerk.

Jung-in arrives at Seo-jun’s apartment to discuss her dropping the drama. She treats him coldly, acting like this is just a product of her fickleness. She changed her mind and doesn’t want to do the drama anymore.

Jung-in admits that she’s not in violation of her contract, but tries to appeal to her anyway. Her patience wearing thin, she bursts out that she’s not at all bothered by the rumors, though clearly her heated response proves just the opposite.

He hangs around for a while, growing concerned when she remains in the bathroom with the water running. Cautiously opening the door — which, dude!, could end really embarrassingly, just sayin’ — he finds her sobbing in the shower.

A short while later, a subdued Seo-jun asks what she did that was so wrong. Jung-in assures her that she did nothing — it’s just that people will believe what they want to.

He surprises her by guessing that her reason for remaining quiet on the scandal is to protect her family. You get the sense nobody knew that about her.

Mary’s more relieved than disappointed when Jung-in calls her to say he won’t be able to take her to her mother’s memorial after all, because she’d be hard-pressed to explain the whole handcuffed-to-my-former-fake-husband thing.

She goes with Mu-gyul instead, though she asks him to keep his headphones on so she can have a private moment with her mother. He complies, and Mary tells her mother she’s getting engaged today. She’d wanted to fall in love like her mother had — running away to marry in spite of parental opposition — but alas, that didn’t work out. And while she doesn’t love her fiance, he’s a good man and she intends to give it a good try.

But she starts to break down into tears as she says, “But on a day like this, I wish I had someone I love and you by my side.”

Mu-gyul’s song fades out and he looks over at Mary crying beside him. Pretending his music is still playing, he drapes his jacket over her but assures her that he can’t hear.

On the bus ride home, Mary reminisces of childhood, when she’d wished most for her mother on rainy days. Other kids were picked up from school by mothers carrying umbrellas, but Mary’s dad worked and told her to wait in the classroom, since he hated seeing her wet from the rain.

Mu-gyul’s mother was always off working, too, so he never had her around to carry umbrellas for him either. Mary listens with sympathy, though he maintains a dispassionate tone as he explains that he’s hardly ever lived with her — only for brief spells before getting kicked out of one place or another.

He does have one funny memory of him with Mom, though — she used to take him into the women’s public baths when he was young. Mary has that in common with him, since her dad would take her into the men’s side. They laugh about how embarrassing that was — and in fact, people thought he was a girl till he was 8. And I say: Only 8? It’s not like your current look is helping, since you look more like Mary’s boho unni, not her would-be husband-boyfriend.

At home, it’s Mary’s turn to wear the headphones as Mu-gyul hears from his mother that she’s off to Paris. She’s tired of her on-again, off-again relationship, and figures that going to a different country with the boyfriend will help the relationship. (Or strand you in hell together?)

Mom adds that it’ll better for Mu-gyul if she leaves, since she’s caused him so much trouble, but that triggers his temper and he yells a retort before calming himself and sitting sullenly.

His mother turns to Mary, asking her to take care of Mu-gyul, but he cuts her off and storms out angrily, dragging Mary along with him.

Hurt and upset at the desertion, Mu-gyul takes it out on his bandmate’s voicemail, demanding that they come to unlock the cuffs. To his surprise, when he turns around, Mary holds up a bunch of lettuce — like he’d done for her once — and urges him to cheer up. It’s so unexpected that he’s momentarily shocked out of his temper.

Jung-in plays guitar for Seo-jun for a while, and she responds to his comment about protecting her family — they’re all doctors, lawyers, and government officials, and the only way for her to satisfy their expectations was to marry. So when she went into acting, she cut ties with them.

Jung-in has to stop playing when his hand cramps up, and Seo-jun half-jokingly asks if his scars are self-inflicted. To her shock, he admits, “Yes.”

He explains that back when he was studying abroad, his guitar was his only friend. But his father told him to stop, because music makes people weak, playing on emotions and sentiment. He dutifully quit, but it was painful to look on a guitar he couldn’t play, so he ended up hurting himself.

The story drives his point across when Jung-in tells Seo-jun that she’s admirable for choosing her own way despite her parents’ opposition, because he couldn’t.

Audition time comes, but Mary is still cuffed to Mu-gyul as the band preps to perform for a prospective manager. The problem is, the bandmate can’t find the handcuff key, so the band hurriedly presents Mary as part of their “backup dancer concept,” and Mu-gyul instructs her to play along.

Mary is a poor dancer and she huddles behind Mu-gyul for the first verse, but finally he shoves her out into view and she forces herself to go along. As warned, she’s pretty awful — she looks like an uncoordinated hippie sprite flower lettuce child trippin’ out to Fleetwood Mac — but she’s also adorable, and it makes everyone laugh, including the manager.

Jung-in drives himself and Seo-jun to Hongdae, where he’ll drop her off and pick up his fiancee. Seo-jun hadn’t realized today was a big day for him and apologizes for holding him up, but he assures her that it’s fine, because she was important too. A nice answer to a potential future love interest, no?

Seo-jun says a bit wistfully that she’s curious and envious of his fiancee, and he answers that he’ll introduce her after the ceremony. More like before, if meddling Fate gets its way.

While the friends search for the missing key, Mu-gyul fiddles with a screwdriver. Finally, he gives up in frustration, and they bicker as she worries about the engagement party; it’s almost as though he’s goading her to call him that hated phrase, “unlucky bastard.”

Instead, Mary tells him not to talk about himself that way, because in fact he’s the opposite — a lucky guy, since he’s blessed with good looks and musical talent.

Aw, that’s totally sweet, and just the right thing to say. Mollified, Mu-gyul asks, oh-so-casually, if she’s ever liked him. You know, not that he cares — it’s just that they’ve already ended things and she’s about to get engaged and he’s curious… He admits, “There was a time I had feelings for you, in the middle somewhere.”

She reminds him that he doesn’t see her as a woman, so he says that it was more that he saw her as… and then trails off.

He gives her the context: It was back when she went to Jung-in’s father’s mansion, when he was left eating ice cream alone. That’s when he felt something, when he waited for her.

Mary stares at him, stunned, while Mu-gyul gets the call that the key has been found. As they head over to get uncuffed, Mu-gyul gets a glimpse of Mary’s disturbed expression and asks why she’s about to cry. Does she even love Jung-in?

Mary says she doesn’t know — she’s not even sure what love is yet. Now the conversation turns prickly and he’s picking at her wound, so she retorts that he doesn’t know what love is, either — how could he, with his constant string of short-term girlfriends? When she calls out his fear of attachment, he bristles at Mary talking like she knows him so well.

She fires back that he’d better fix that, or he’ll never be able to love. That sets him off, and he yells, “Who are you to act so high and mighty when you’re marrying a man you don’t even love?”

Which is when the trio of student-fans spot Mu-gyul and bound over excitedly… until they see that he’s cuffed to a girl. Suddenly they get mean and aggressive, asking who Mary is — and you know what they say about a fangirl scorned…

Mu-gyul tries to calm them down, but he can see the trouble brewing, and yells at Mary to run.

Arriving at their destination, Seo-jun asks to borrow Jung-in’s cell phone to make a call, but Mu-gyul, who’s currently being chased by angry fangirls, understandably can’t pick up. Ending the call, Seo-jun notices that all of Jung-in’s latest phone calls have been to Mary. What could this mean? (Other than she’s nosy and about to fly into yet more righteous anger to which she has no claim.)

And then, instead of returning Jung-in’s phone, she CALLS MARY. Talk about interfering, missy. She gapes in shock at the photo that accompanies her name — their engagement picture.

Mary and Mu-gyul run through the streets until they find an alley, and duck into it. They laugh as they catch their breaths, but when the girls run by, Mu-gyul grabs Mary close to shield her from view. As he looks down on her, the moment turns more intimate.

But when he leans in for a kiss, Mary turns her head away at the last minute and calls him a player for trying to kiss her when it means nothing to him. Now it’s her turn to come clean: “That time, it felt like my heart would burst.”

Mu-gyul realizes what she’s confessing — so she DID feel something for him — but Mary reminds him that he doesn’t see her as a woman. He reminds her that she didn’t see him as a man, either.

Mary: “You told me not to like you.”Mu-gyul: “You told me you didn’t like me.”

Thankfully for us, things change.

COMMENTS

What turned this episode around for me is probably when Mu-gyul admits he liked Mary, even though he makes sure to couch it in qualifiers and say it was in the past, in a self-protective measure. Jealousy is fun and all, but I can only take so many angry punches before needing something more, and no amount of faux-bromancey moments can make up for that.

So it’s a welcome relief that both Mary and Mu-gyul are finally fessing up and being straight. It’s more of a game-changer than even the revelation of the fake marriage, because now the question is: Whatchoo gonna do about it?

This episode also goes a long way to showing Mary’s effect on both men, which we’ve seen in the last few as well. We already know that she’s a positive influence on both men, and brings warmth to both of them, both emotionally and physically. (Btw, what do you suppose it means that she gives one mittens and the other socks? Or is it just a case of choosing two extremities?)

But nowhere is her impact more clear than when she tells Mu-gyul that he’s not an unlucky bastard, and furthermore, he’s quite a lucky one after all. It’s sort of like the difference between hearing “you’re fucking ugly” your whole life and then suddenly having someone tell you, “you’re fucking beautiful.” They’re just words, but somehow they have the power to tilt your axis, shift your worldview just a little, jar you out of your funk and make you see a slightly different angle. She said a similar thing to his mother previously, telling her to think more positively about her life because good energy brings good luck, just as bad energy brings bad luck.

December 7, 2010 at 8:24 AM

December 7, 2010 at 4:13 PM

UNREGISTERED

I agree! Great Kiss.. but we probably are going to jump into angsty territory... And the writers are pretty horrible.. I hope our cast can somehow save us!

On an additional note, my mitten and the socks theory is that for Jung-in the sock represents him being able to walk on his own, make his own choices and not follow daddy's every single whim. As for Mu-gyul, the mittens may signify he can hold on and feel love? lol.. I mean not be lonely because of mommy and hold on to his darn girl-friend (MAE-RI), unlike his previous relationships.. OR maybe I am just over analyzing the shows writers.. :D

December 7, 2010 at 7:29 PM

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oh thats perfect analysis actually :D! Love it! Thats a really nice way to look at it !super high five!

oh boy! I really do hope our cast can save the show now that its nearing the angst zone! I almost gave up on the show last week and it was still in its cutesy mode... so I really am worried how the writers are gonna handle the angst! it could potentially be a deal-breaker :/

December 6, 2010 at 9:15 PM

UNREGISTERED

seriously loved the ending to this episode. the kiss was great and though it wasn't a direct confession on either side it was appropriate.

also jang geun suk's voice there. i kind of died.

strangely i'm not too excited for the next episode. just looks there's going to be some tidal wave of angst that drives mugyul and mary apart, although i can't even begin to think of what. i hope it's something more than just seojun and the parents getting in the way

December 6, 2010 at 9:31 PM

The way Mary points out the other side of the coin to the men, and even Mu-gyul's mother is probably from her usage of her defense mechanism. Count down to 10, and it's a whole new perspective.

How much do I love Mary and Mu-gyul?? I absolutely looooove them. When Mary started dancing on the stage, I cracked up so badly. I love them.

I'm getting more and more annoyed at Mary not being able to stand up for herself and just tells them to @$^! off. I don't know how real is an arranged marriage is in Korea. Maybe it's actually a common occurrence enough that most of the Korean population can understand Mary's struggle. But ... yea, I just cannot take it any more.

Especially if we think about it... Mary obviously doesn't want to get married, so she has her fiery, defiant, courage side which we saw when she took on the scheme. And she has always dreamed of marrying someone she loves even with parental opposition, which she admires that her parents did. What is stopping her from just calling it all off? I just don't feel there's enough reason for her to NOT tell them off for so long. She should be voicing her anger a long time ago. I want to see her angry at the whole ridiculous situation.

Maybe that's what it is? We haven't ever really seen her angry. How can she be this demure? I know she's suppose to be a good, sunny girl, but she used to know what she wants - get back into school, no marriage, and drama watching. And then her self esteem seems to just plummet way down. Let the girl get angry! (as oppose to Seo-jun, who really needs to stop freaking out)

Can't help but be reminded of Jun Seol Hee from I Am Legend - ESPECIALLY with all the "perfect bride" classes. Good lord.

December 7, 2010 at 4:43 PM

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Arranged marriages, depending on how one defines this term can be common or not. But the kind of CONTRACTUAL marriage, which would be a better term, is NOT common anymore and would hardly stand in court if the bride decided to contest it.

However, in this storyline, Mary puts up with it because of her father. Her father is/was in debt and begs Mary to help him help her. After all, underneath the father's shallow and materialistic agenda, he does genuinely love his daughter and wants the best for her. I hope I'm not giving anything too drastic from today's 9th episode where Mary's father tries to explain to Mary that although he eloped with her mother, it wasn't all roses after that. He tells her that his mother SUFFERED greatly because he was so unprepared and in lack of his ability to make a decent living for them. He tells Mary quite urgently that he doesn't want that kind of suffering for Mary.

Of course, one can't deny the advantages to HIM if his daughter married Jung In so it's a win-win situation.

And culturally, it's rare for a child to "stand up" to a parent and tell the parent off. It's mostly a Western concept. Children are taught to obey their parents because it's understood that parents (generally, anyway) always try to do what's best for the child, regardless of how old the child actually is. Also, to simply tell off a parent would be tantamount to cutting off the relationship permanently. It's more in line that children, adult children would try to PERSUADE rather than telling off the parent to see his/her way. And there are lots of ways to "persuade" the parent. Some would consider it cowardly, but hey - to each his/her own.

December 6, 2010 at 9:43 PM

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the library as a gift kind of makes me want to marry jung in myself tbh, i saw that and melted. it's so very much the way to my heart. talk about my personal heaven, boy earned so much brownie points from me with that move.

December 6, 2010 at 10:13 PM

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Right? That book-giving makes him the best Santa and Boyfriend in the world, I totally want to marry him now (especially if we combine his waffle making skills from coffee prince, ice cream licking skills from Bad Guy, and now this book giving...how perfect is he?)

December 6, 2010 at 9:33 PM

December 6, 2010 at 9:34 PM

UNREGISTERED

i haven't watched the episode with subs yet but at first, i was so touched when Jung In gave Mae Ri the library, because it totally reminded me of Beauty & the Beast (lol) but oh my god, the alleyway confession. When Moo Kyul leaned in for the kiss and she pulled away, my heart was SHATTERING. But when they finally admitted they liked each other and he kissed her, my heart felt like it was going to explode. Overreacting? Maybe, but I'm so excited for the next episode, ARE THEY RUNNING AWAY TOGETHER? Haha, that's sure going to be fun.

December 6, 2010 at 9:37 PM

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"I might have more faith in their abilities if they weren’t dressed up like Fabulous Stripper Cops at the Boy-on-Boy Disco… but one produces handcuffs and slap them on Mu-gyul’s wrist, and this takes my imagination to fun places, so…"
-Haha, it would definitely make things more interesting.

Mary being the back-up dancer was hilarious. I couldn't stop laughing during that whole scene.

I kind of want Seo-jun and Jung-in to end up together, since the writers seem to be forcing it down our throats, but on the other hand, I don't really like Seo-jun and would be more satisfied if they were just friends.

I didn't expect Mary and Mu-gyul to actually get together so fast, but I guess since we're at the halfway point, it makes sense. I just wonder now how it's going to play out(please no forced separation).

December 6, 2010 at 9:40 PM

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So I have a TERRIBLE case of the second lead syndrome - from the very beginning, I've been rooting pretty hard for Jung-In - not that I don't like Moo-Gyul, too, but I really feel like in a lot of ways he and Mary are too similar. They have all the same problems, whereas Jung-in can help solve some of Mary's problems (ahem, her irresponsible dad), and she can help solve some of his (his uhhh TOTAL LACK OF WARMTH). Plus, Kim Jae Wook is a dreamboat. :p But I've been getting pretty annoyed with Jung-in lately, because he hasn't proven at all that he likes Mary beyond that his dad is forcing him to marry her. Show us some emotion, please! We're already at the halfway point of the drama!! In this one episode, he's probably had more emotional connection with Seo-joon than with Mary, total - so if he actually still wants to face off Moo-Gyul for her, I wish he'd hurry and step it up. I mean, at this point it's not even a contest between the two main leads, and what's a kdrama without some genuine melodrama?

December 7, 2010 at 9:16 AM

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OMG. I HAD THE SAME THOUGHT. first he wears the socks Mary gave him OVER his socks (idk about you guys, but isn't the whole point of wearing those soft socks supposed to on bare feet so you can feel the softness -.-). and when he starts to lie down again, i'm like...uhh in your suit jung-in. really? SIGH but i guess it doesn't fit his character...? what kind of pajamas would he wear..?

December 6, 2010 at 10:05 PM

December 6, 2010 at 10:05 PM

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Oh, a library as an engagement gift? Of all my favorite books? I'm sorry but Mu-gyul who?

The dads are freaking ridiculous in here. They annoy me more than even the usual villains. And man, I was so hoping Seo Jun's character wouldn't have gone the usual route of bitchy rival female is bitchy. She was rather awesome in the the few beginning eps.

December 6, 2010 at 10:11 PM

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Thank you Jang Geun Suk for showing me that you do indeed know how to kiss a female costar. Cause considering all of your drama kisses or as i like to call lip press other lip thus far I was starting to wonder.

I am glad to see a change in the drama and I am curious to see how it all plays out. I frankly find the plot uninspired but I like the actors and will stick with watching it.

December 6, 2010 at 10:15 PM

UNREGISTERED

Thanks for the recap, JB. I love your writing style so much.

I loved this episode!!! It felt very real--like the romance depicted in Que Sera or Soulmates, which is saying a lot considering how shenenigany this show has been/was. What sets this apart is how believable MG/MR's friendship is--and it makes complete sense that the two people would nervously move past the friendzoned area and naturally gravitate toward each other.

I love that they are both poor (and I hope they remain poor), both from dysfunctional families, and both have trouble expressing emotions. I also love that MR is choosing the totally inappropriate attachment-phobic loser guy (with NO MONEY--take that, 100% of the K-dramas I have watched) over the rich, perfectly chiseled guy.

JGS is such a natural actor. I loved that he was playing with his fingers and occasionally slamming back against the sofa while confessing.

I worry about where the show will/can/could go with this. Of course the fathers will try to separate the two ...but with what at stake? There is no high society to maintain face in, etc.

Hopefully we are not going to start on a angst-ridden separation and then reunion and then separation and reunion till the end.

I do like the thought of pretty rocker chick and damn-fine-anime-guy hooking up; although playing the guitar to rocker chick on your engagement day is kinda not cool.

December 6, 2010 at 10:21 PM

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Have to agree with your last comment - I understand seo-joon is important to his drama and he wants to convince her to stay in the production, but I was pretty irked that he blew off going with Mary to her mother's memorial (even if she was relieved). I'm having a really hard time believing that he genuinely cares for her past the forced situation... which makes his insistence on blocking Mary/Moo-Gyul pretty terrible in my mind. I want so badly to cheer for Jung-In, but he seems so self-centered :(

December 6, 2010 at 10:31 PM

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Yeah, I agree with your points. Honestly, I don't think the writers have developed JI much at all. Even w/an interesting back story (with the horrific kidnapping and all) and nasty yakuza father and self-mutilation, etc., he remains one-dimensional and unconvincing. It could be his lack of acting skills--dunno.

I think he has liked rocker chick from the beginning, though, don't you think?

It's his affection for MG that makes no sense. I don't feel anything real between the two. The writers are forcing that one on us.

December 6, 2010 at 10:41 PM

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I think he's respected seo-joon from the beginning (oh! another thing! I don't feel like he respects Mary at all as an equal, whereas Moo-Gyul totally knows her value) but I can't decide if he's romantically interested in seo-joon or not. His emotions are so flat! It's impossible to figure out if he's into anyone - well, except one. Out of all the characters, I think Jung-In has showed the most active interest in Moo-Gyul. haha.

The writers are pushing hard for the Jung-In-->Mary plotline, because I suspect it's supposed to end in a "showdown" between JI and M-G, except at this point I'm not even bothering to keep score. The library was a nice gesture... but he totally lost the moment when he rushed away yet again to deal with business and then dropped the ball with the mother's memorial. I want some real drama! with genuine two-way emotional anguish!! I'm tired of simple misunderstandings and missed connections.

December 7, 2010 at 5:49 PM

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One whole day late to reply, but yeah, I agree, JI really doesn't respect Mary--although she's not my fav. character (she's too cutesy and baby-ish). I do like her protective maternal instincts...but she just doesn't cut it for me. OTOH, I think JI respects SJ, admires her, likes her nonmainstream badass attitude. Those two will probably end up together. I'll be surprised if they don't.

December 7, 2010 at 1:42 AM

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agreed.. I really liked 2 scenes; in the bus where they talked abt their experience in the sauna and where MG confessed at home.. JKS and MGY are so natural.. I feel like I'm eavesdropping on 2 friends/lovers in their conversation...2 thumbs up !!!

December 6, 2010 at 10:24 PM

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i really wished for some turn around with this episode, but unfortunately, I found myself more frustrated than ever. The unsubtle and yet too weakly used k drama plot devices and contrivances were annoying me already. Then came the band in their crazy, faux latex outfits. And really, handcuffs? Hello? Heard of a locksmith, anyone? I so wish that I was still in serious like with this drama, but I'm not. I'm having trouble believing any of the characters except for at times Jung in (hey, I'm a sucker for books and he won me over with that library.) I also think he has some really sincere and "present" moments of stillness. But, man I wish the writer would give him some better stuff from which to work. What a waste.
And am I the only one afraid of how they are going to fill the next 8 episodes? I feel like my loyalty to this drama is just going to lead to a world of hurt and frustration (as was the case in MGY's other it-could-have-been-so -beautiful drama Cinderella's sister. But I'm pretty sure that I wasn't this frustrated as early on in the drama. I think they had me until 12.) But, for all my disappointment I'll still watch. So really, I'm the train wreck watching the train wreck. That's the power of the k drama.

December 6, 2010 at 11:01 PM

December 6, 2010 at 10:27 PM

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Is it just me or does one of Mu-gyul's band members remind you a little of Gong Yoo? It was in the scene where they're auditioning and the one on the far right smiles when he sees Mary dancing and I was just like, Gong Yoo! Of course, I could just have Gong Yoo on the brain as per usual. :-)

December 6, 2010 at 10:56 PM

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I really loved the big reveal in the bridal shop was Jung In and not Mary! I'm so used to the guy seeing the girl in the wedding dress and falling in love with the bridal image, and then the mirrored platform/spot light was all Jung In. I laughed so hard at that, even though he was definitely pretty enough to fall in love with there.

I can't stand SeoJun. At first I thought that she could possibly be cool, but not after this episode. It feels like she sucks the energy out of the entire episode, so I've just started fast forwarding through her parts.

December 6, 2010 at 10:59 PM

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If "second lead" syndrome is where you root for the competition-guy, what do you call rooting for the female second lead? Is there a term for that?

...because I do actually feel for SJ. She'd been trying to develop a friendship with MG, and even if there were leftover feelings, it looked like they could work through them into a friendship, and she thought he was being on the level -- not being the marrying kind, not dating anyone right then. To find out that he wasn't just dating someone, but is claiming he's married, would feel like a slap to the face, I think. In her place, I'd be hurt, too -- even if lingering feelings weren't part of it, it still hurts to find out a friend lied to your face.

So in that sense, I guess I have... other-second-lead syndrome? I can do without theatrics, but I still think she deserves an apology from MG, because as a friend, his behavior was far from friend-like. On a bad day, I'd even call it rather despicable.

Not that I expect the drama to actually address that, given how the logic train we're on seems to be... well, not of this earth logic. It's Mary-logic!

December 7, 2010 at 5:22 AM

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Ah! kaigou, it's the 2nd time I totally agree with you!

I really like SJ, I totally get where she's coming from; she's the kind of person who acts strong but really isn't (contrary to Maeri who seems so fragile but is strong enough to deal with what comes to her); and I get that when her friend(I supposed she's the kind who doesn't have much friend either so the one she has must be really important to her)/ex lies to you, to your face, for a girl(whether he likes her or not) he just met! Well yeah that hurts!

I agree that, at some point, MG gotta say/show he's sorry; cause otherwise he'd be just like his mother, I hope it will be part of the growth of his character!

December 6, 2010 at 11:07 PM

just a comment - the character jung-in shdn't be one-dimensional, but sadly kim jae wook is still in his model mode. a lot of the time, i thot my computer froze when he's on screen, but actually, it was him posing still for a few seconds. very gd-looking guy, but needs to be more relaxed and act more naturally.

December 7, 2010 at 1:39 AM

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agree abt KJW.. he is so absolutely gorgeous.. but why does he always walk like he is on the catwalk and when he is supposed to be deep in thought, look like he is posing for a photoshoot.. someone tell me that he is a better actor than this..

As a result, i'm feeling nothing for his character.. hope it's just the poor direction and script..I really do want to feel for him but I just can't.. :(

December 13, 2010 at 9:16 PM

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Hee- your comment is funny, but I think that's part of his character. He's not supposed to be human-like because he's so used to holding things in and reining in his emotions. And I think the actor is perfect for that, and actually does a good job of looking like he's actually got a soul behind the facade, unlike, for instance what's-his-name dude in Playful Kiss and Boys Before Flowers.

December 6, 2010 at 11:16 PM

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im very, very happy with the progressing now! the second kiss between mu gyul and mary just kills me over and over again and i scream like those crazy fan girls, 'ah~~~'
p/s, i dont do that often. ahahha! cant wait for this drama to be air in my country.

December 6, 2010 at 11:25 PM

December 6, 2010 at 11:27 PM

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Did anyone else notice that fancy boy put on mary's socks over his own socks before he laid down on his bed in his suit? I started screaming at the screen you forgot to put on your jammies. Mary's dance and the ending were definatly the highlights for me.

December 7, 2010 at 12:13 AM

December 7, 2010 at 12:17 AM

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Thanks JB for sticking with the mary and recapping this for us!! Gracias!! I have a BIG questions, that despite, my two years of Kdrama watching, I have never been able to understand...WHATS the big deal with the two "fake" leads (Seo-jun) being in a scandal..?? Why is it such a big deal that you would need it to be squashed..? Why would it damage an actors career and cause them problems. I 've never understood why in some series it required a press conference to deal with the scandal. If anyone can explain it I would greatly appreciate it since it would add to my understanding.